Hypo
/ˈhaɪpoʊ/noun
A hypodermic syringe or injection, or an episode of abnormally low blood sugar.
Did you know?The prefix hypo- comes from Ancient Greek ὑπό, meaning “under” or “beneath,” and forms medical terms such as hypothermia and hypoglycemia.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*upo
“Under, beneath, or up from below; the ancient root behind several spatial terms.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
ὑπό (hypó)
“Under, beneath, or by; used as a preposition and prefix.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
ὑπο- (hypo-)
“A combining form meaning under, below, deficient, or less than normal.”
17th Century
English
hypo-
“A learned medical and scientific prefix meaning under or below.”
19th Century
English
hypo
“A shortened form of hypodermic, referring to a hypodermic syringe or injection.”
20th Century
English
hypo
“A short form of hypoglycemia or hypoglycemic attack, especially in British English.”